yeah, it would have been great if we used the cap space we cleared, but in retrospect, not very good

I still have to think that Michalek quietly requested the trade.(I'm too lazt to dig up the quote, but I recall ZM saying that he was being expected to play a style that he was not comfortable with....This was right after their season ended.) If needed, Shero could have sent him packing after making a big signing...there was no practical need to do it at that time.Especially since be basically gave him away.

I'd have to go with the Michalek trade as of now. The Pens gave up a top-4 d-man, who while under-performing, didn't have a horrible contract, and got a middling prospect and mid-round pick in return. The Wings didn't get much less when they traded Stuart to San Jose, and he was set to be a UFA.

It think it had to have been done at least in part to honor a request on Michalek's part to go back to Phoenix.